My name is Robert Allen and I am a freshman at the University of Cincinnati, double-majoring in Secondary Education-Social Studies and French. I am involved in Bearcat Bands, College Mentors for Kids, Bearcat Buddies, Serve Beyond Cincinnati and the University Honors Program. I am from West Liberty, OH and graduated from West Liberty-Salem High School. I have three younger brothers and an older brother and sister.
I have always wanted to be a teacher. In high school I was involved in several tutoring programs and have continued my involvement through College Mentors for Kids and Bearcat Buddies here on campus. When I graduate I want to find a job teaching government and basic french.
ISTE Standards Reflections:
1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments. Teachers: a. promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness b. engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources c. promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students’ conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes d. model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environments. Reflection: I believe this standard encourages teachers to embrace the available technology and use it to their advantage. There are many websites and online tools to “bring to life” everything that students are learning in the classroom. Instead of just reading about something on a page, students can participate in a virtual world and experience historical events, different cultures and world landmarks without ever leaving the classroom. Teachers need to show these tools to their students and use class time to let their students explore them. The internet is a powerful tool in the classroom and it should be taken advantage of in the correct way. If a student is introduced to something in the classroom, they will be more likely to use the same resource when they go home. If they are just told to look something up at home, they are not very likely to actually do it. Teachers need to be aware of the resources available for their students and they need to be comfortable with them so they can show their students the correct way to use the resources. Whenever I saw that my teachers could use the technology, it gave me the confidence to try it myself. If no one shows the students what is available for them, they won’t be able to take advantage of it. 4. Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility Teachers understand local and global societal issues and responsibilities in an evolving digital culture and exhibit legal and ethical behavior in their professional practices. Teachers: a. advocate, model, and teach safe, legal, and ethical use of digital information and technology, including respect for copyright, intellectual property, and the appropriate documentation of sources b. address the diverse needs of all learners by using learner-centered strategies and providing equitable access to appropriate digital tools and resources c. promote and model digital etiquette and responsible social interactions related to the use of technology and information d. develop and model cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with colleagues and students of other cultures using digital-age communication and collaboration tools Reflection: The internet is a very good but dangerous resource. There are many people out there who take advantage of people who don’t know what they are doing. Because of this, students need to be taught the correct way to use the internet and other technological resources. Especially in younger classrooms, students might not be as familiar with the internet and are more susceptible to clicking on the wrong website or giving away personal information to the wrong people. If these things are included in the curriculum, students and networks will be safer and less at risk. Along with safety, it is important that students are taught about plagiarism and copyright rules. Just because the information is available doesn’t mean anyone is free to use it. Students need to know how to find legitimate sources and how to cite them correctly. As students get older and progress into high school and college, there are serious consequences as a result of plagiarism. These problems can be avoided for the most part if students are taught how to use their resources properly. 5. Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership Teachers continuously improve their professional practice, model lifelong learning, and exhibit leadership in their school and professional community by promoting and demonstrating the effective use of digital tools and resources. Teachers: a. participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning b. exhibit leadership by demonstrating a vision of technology infusion, participating in shared decision making and community building, and developing the leadership and technology skills of others c. evaluate and reflect on current research and professional practice on a regular basis to make effective use of existing and emerging digital tools and resources in support of student learning d. contribute to the effectiveness, vitality, and self-renewal of the teaching profession and of their school and community Reflection: Teachers must continuously further their education by familiarizing themselves with the newest technology and resources available. Once the teacher has the knowledge, they can pass it on to their students and others in the community. The education system in the United States gets a lot of flack for being ineffective and outdated, however; if all teachers stay on top of current trends and always looks for new and exciting things to implement in their classroom, our education system will improve. This knowledge can then be passed on to other teachers, administrators and members of the community and contribute to an overall better educated society. It is extremely important that teachers practice lifelong learning in their content areas and keep up on new innovations in education. If they apply this philosophy to technology, they will be better prepared to meet the needs of their students and keep them more engaged. When the entire field of education adopts this philosophy, there will be a marked improvement.
I have always wanted to be a teacher. In high school I was involved in several tutoring programs and have continued my involvement through College Mentors for Kids and Bearcat Buddies here on campus. When I graduate I want to find a job teaching government and basic french.
ISTE Standards Reflections:
1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity
Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student
learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments. Teachers:
a. promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness
b. engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources
c. promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students’ conceptual understanding and thinking, planning,
and creative processes
d. model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environments.
Reflection:
I believe this standard encourages teachers to embrace the available technology and use it to their advantage. There are many websites and online tools to “bring to life” everything that students are learning in the classroom. Instead of just reading about something on a page, students can participate in a virtual world and experience historical events, different cultures and world landmarks without ever leaving the classroom. Teachers need to show these tools to their students and use class time to let their students explore them. The internet is a powerful tool in the classroom and it should be taken advantage of in the correct way. If a student is introduced to something in the classroom, they will be more likely to use the same resource when they go home. If they are just told to look something up at home, they are not very likely to actually do it.
Teachers need to be aware of the resources available for their students and they need to be comfortable with them so they can show their students the correct way to use the resources. Whenever I saw that my teachers could use the technology, it gave me the confidence to try it myself. If no one shows the students what is available for them, they won’t be able to take advantage of it.
4. Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility
Teachers understand local and global societal issues and responsibilities in an evolving digital culture and exhibit legal and ethical
behavior in their professional practices. Teachers:
a. advocate, model, and teach safe, legal, and ethical use of digital information and technology, including respect for copyright,
intellectual property, and the appropriate documentation of sources
b. address the diverse needs of all learners by using learner-centered strategies and providing equitable access to appropriate digital tools
and resources
c. promote and model digital etiquette and responsible social interactions related to the use of technology and information
d. develop and model cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with colleagues and students of other cultures using
digital-age communication and collaboration tools
Reflection:
The internet is a very good but dangerous resource. There are many people out there who take advantage of people who don’t know what they are doing. Because of this, students need to be taught the correct way to use the internet and other technological resources. Especially in younger classrooms, students might not be as familiar with the internet and are more susceptible to clicking on the wrong website or giving away personal information to the wrong people. If these things are included in the curriculum, students and networks will be safer and less at risk.
Along with safety, it is important that students are taught about plagiarism and copyright rules. Just because the information is available doesn’t mean anyone is free to use it. Students need to know how to find legitimate sources and how to cite them correctly. As students get older and progress into high school and college, there are serious consequences as a result of plagiarism. These problems can be avoided for the most part if students are taught how to use their resources properly.
5. Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership
Teachers continuously improve their professional practice, model lifelong learning, and exhibit leadership in their school and professional
community by promoting and demonstrating the effective use of digital tools and resources. Teachers:
a. participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improve student learning
b. exhibit leadership by demonstrating a vision of technology infusion, participating in shared decision making and community
building, and developing the leadership and technology skills of others
c. evaluate and reflect on current research and professional practice on a regular basis to make effective use of existing and emerging digital
tools and resources in support of student learning
d. contribute to the effectiveness, vitality, and self-renewal of the teaching profession and of their school and community
Reflection:
Teachers must continuously further their education by familiarizing themselves with the newest technology and resources available. Once the teacher has the knowledge, they can pass it on to their students and others in the community. The education system in the United States gets a lot of flack for being ineffective and outdated, however; if all teachers stay on top of current trends and always looks for new and exciting things to implement in their classroom, our education system will improve. This knowledge can then be passed on to other teachers, administrators and members of the community and contribute to an overall better educated society.
It is extremely important that teachers practice lifelong learning in their content areas and keep up on new innovations in education. If they apply this philosophy to technology, they will be better prepared to meet the needs of their students and keep them more engaged. When the entire field of education adopts this philosophy, there will be a marked improvement.